A man has been fined for illegally flying a drone controlled air spaces over Hyde Park.

33-year-old Richard Brunner, of Reighton Road in Hackney, was fined £1,225 after pleading guilty to three offences contrary to sections 166 and 167 of the Air Navigation Order 2009 at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday (October 1).

His conviction follows an investigation by the Westminster Safer Transport team - part of the Met's Roads and Transport Policing Command, which is part funded by Transport for London.

Brunner illegally flew his drone, which was fitted with a camera and therefore classified as a small unmanned surveillance aircraft, on Saturday, 30 May at about 11:30hrs over Hyde Park, without permission from the Civil Aviation Authority.

Westminster Safer Transport team officers were on patrol and saw the drone flying within 10 metres of traffic and pedestrians.

The officers identified Brunner who was operating the drone from within Hyde Park. He told officers he was filming a promotional video.

The drone was seized by the officers and the case was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Chief Inspector Colin Carswell, from the Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: "This was an act of irresponsibility that could have had serious consequences, not least the risk of causing serious injury to the people below."